Can You Tip With A Gift Card
Can You Tip With A Gift Card - Angel Rodriguez didn't get her first massage until she was 40—because she says she had no idea what to expect, including how much to pay for a massage. “My husband gave me a gift card for my birthday, and it took me six months to use it. I was in shock,” said Rodriguez, 42, who lives in Staten Island, New York. "When I first went in, the massage therapist told me to 'undress to a comfortable level,' and I was like, 'Ma'am, nothing about this is comfortable!'" Rodriguez said. Her masseuse looked her straight in the eye and told her to take a breath and relax or "I can light my gift card on fire, and if my husband wants to give me a fire gift, he will." The comment made her laugh, and that's when she knew she had found the right kiss. Since then, she returns once a month—and always makes a point of leaving a big tip. But what, exactly, is tipping etiquette when it comes to massage therapy? Is it different from how much to tip a hairdresser or how much to tip a nail salon? And do you always have to give advice, or do ethical considerations vary around the world? Of course, Rodriguez is not alone in the confusion and frustration when it comes to massage therapy, but this is no reason to miss out on what she calls "one of the greatest pleasures in life." So we asked the experts to share everything you need to know about how much to pay for a massage. Get Reader's Digest's Read Up Newsletter for more etiquette, humor, cleaning, travel, art and entertainment all week long. In the United States, massage therapists can work privately, in a spa or as part of a doctor's office. They can be billed per session or hourly, and they usually don't get all the money you pay for treatment. Let's say a deep tissue massage costs $80. A tip is not included in that bill, and most of the money goes to the spa or spa, with your massage therapist getting only a percentage. Tips can make a big difference to how much they bring home each night. "You should always give something after a massage — it's not rude," says Beth Rose, a licensed massage therapist and business owner in Kennewick, Washington. “We provide a service. Plus, massage is hard work! A good suggestion gives us confidence to serve you better next time. ” And speaking of tipping requirements, don't forget that you need to tip for pizza delivery too! Basic etiquette rules say to tip 20% of the bill, according to Valerie Sokolosky, an etiquette expert and author of Do It Right, the complete etiquette guide. "Trust that the massage therapist or their manager will adjust the charge based on the services performed and the time, so you don't need to count anything more than one part," she said. For example, a regular massage might be $50 for 60 minutes, in which case you tip $10, making your total $60. This type of spa can offer a 90-minute deep massage for $200, giving you a $40 tip and a final price of $240. If you feel like your massage therapist goes above and beyond in providing excellent service, feel free to give more, up to 25% or 30%, says Sokolosky. "Most massage therapists prefer to be tipped," says Rose, adding that you can tip the money directly to the therapist at the end of your appointment. "The money is immediate, so you don't have to wait for your payment, and they don't collect taxes." That said, it's perfectly fine to add a tip to your credit card bill if that's your priority, she says. Yes, you should tip at least 20% of the regular service price, even if you use a coupon or gift certificate, says Sokolosky. So if a massage normally costs $100, give $20 even if you have a coupon that reduces the massage to $90 or a gift card that covers the full price. Skipping or skimping on a tip when using a coupon is one of the most common etiquette mistakes, so make sure you don't fall into this trap! One exception? Some gift givers choose to include a tip in the amount they put on the gift card. They may give you a $60 gift certificate to use for a $50 Swedish massage, noting in the card that the gift is good for "one massage and a $10 tip." In this case, you do not need to advise further. It is not right to give more information for a massage during the holidays, but if you have a regular relationship with a therapist, a holiday gift is a good sign. The question, of course, is how much to give for massage in this situation. Sokolosky recommends giving the same amount as the cost of one appointment. Put the coins in an envelope with a nice thank you note. You may also want to consider adding a little more for special occasions and activities, such as a honeymoon couple's massage or a home visit. "It wasn't expected, but it was amazing," Rose said. That's a gray area, says Rose, who owns her own spa. "I don't expect people to give much advice when they come to me," she said. “I set the price based on what I think is fair, and I don't have much money, so all the massage costs go directly to me. But still everyone is giving advice, which I really appreciate. ""All-inclusive" means that tipping is not required. That said, most people will still tip service workers, including massage therapists, a small amount, perhaps $5 to $10. Instead of giving a massage after each massage, it's customary to tip once at the end of the spa, Rose said, adding that it's best to tip directly to the massage therapist. The same goes for other service staff, it's like hotel management. Your dermatologist goes to town with the facials, and you're not in at all. We've all been there, wondering how much to pay for a massage that doesn't look good—and whether we can get away with not leaving a tip at all. Know this: You should recommend your doctor even if you're not 100% satisfied, says Sokolosky. Rose agrees. "You should recommend someone thing," she said. "They usually do at least one or two things right even if the whole thing isn't perfect." And the next time you get a massage, talk yourself out of a bad experience. According to Rose, a good massage therapist will check in with you frequently during the massage to make sure it's a good experience. "I ask questions throughout the session to make sure they're happy and adjust if needed," she says. "If you are not satisfied with something, you should speak up at that time so that we can fix it." Massage therapists who work in medical settings—think chiropractic offices, physical therapy practices and hospitals—often don't get tips, Sokolosky said. The massage is considered a treatment, and the bill goes through insurance, so you don't pay anything during the service. Massage therapists in medical facilities are often paid a salary or an hourly rate, regardless of whether they have clients or not, so all payments are taken care of, if said Rose. If all that tipping talk has you opting for a DIY massage instead, give one of these ahh-mazing scalp massagers a try. We no longer support IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide a great site experience for browsers that support the latest web standards and security practices. Take our 3-minute quiz and play with a consultant today. Take our 3-minute quiz and play with a consultant today. Answer a few questions to get an offer—without any impact on your credit score. Take our 3-minute quiz and play with a consultant today. Take our 3-minute quiz and play with a consultant today. Take our 3-minute quiz and play with a consultant today. Take our 3-minute quiz and play with a consultant today. Take our 3-minute quiz and play with a consultant today. 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Can You Tip With A Gift Card
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